Jacob Rees-Mogg admits no confidence letters are drying up in plot to oust Theresa May

Jacob Rees-Mogg has admitted the ousting of Theresa May may have to wait until next month after the Brexiter plot ran out of steam this week.

The high-profile Brexiter, chairman of the European Research Group of Tory MPs, used an impromptu press conference last Thursday to announce he would be putting in a letter of no confidence in May in protest at her Brexit plans.

Around 24 other Tories have also claimed to have put in letters, but the threshold of 48 needed to trigger a confidence vote in the PM has yet to be reached.

Leading Brexiter Steve Baker admitted on Monday there is a “tactical disagreement” among ERG members over whether to send in letters now or after parliament has voted on the Brexit deal – most likely in December.

Speaking in Westminster on Tuesday morning, Rees-Mogg said: “Patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace etcetera. We shall see whether letters come in due time and there’s a meaningful vote as well and we’ll see what happens with that to a government that seems to have alienated its confidence and supply partners.”

Asked if the plot to get rid of May had gone “a bit Dad’s Army”, Rees-Mogg quipped: “I’ve always admired Captain Mainwaring”.

If the 48-letter threshold is reached, May would be subject to a confidence vote by her Tory MPs. If a majority of Tory MPs voted for May to go, she would be out. Should she win the vote, she could not be challenged for a year.